Whatever your reason for travelling abroad it is always recommended that you obtain adequate travel insurance prior to your trip. In some instances it may cost as little as a few pounds but it could potentially save you a huge amount of money. Although the risk of an unfortunate event occurring is very small in most cases, adequate cover for cancellations, flight delays, medical expenses in case of illness or injury and the like provides you with peace of mind as well as protecting you financially should something go wrong.
Travel insurance providers generally package their policies into a few basic categories. It is crucial that you get the right type of policy to suit your particular purpose, so that should anything go wrong, you are sufficiently covered and can receive the support that you need. Here's a brief rundown on what to expect with the main types of travel insurance policies:
Annual travel insurance
If you travel frequently (three trips or more per year) an annual insurance policy provides an economical and practical choice of travel cover. Annual policies are available from all travel insurance providers and customarily, for a single payment, provide protection for a whole year covering you for an unlimited number of trips as long as no single holiday exceeds a certain specified length (this is usually 31 days, though some policies differ) - even if it's just a weekend away in the UK. This type of policy will usually work out cheaper than buying individual policies for each holiday and is far more convenient than taking out a policy every time you travel.
Single trip travel insurance
Single trip travel insurance policies are recommended for people who travel infrequently - only one or two trips per year. The advantage of buying single trip policies is that they can be tailored to a particular trip; therefore you can save money by only paying for the protection that you specifically require.
Single trip policies can be acquired for any trip over two days in length; the maximum length offered on these type of policies, however, differs considerably between providers (anywhere between 30 and 365 days). In most cases they can be bought for any number of travellers.
All travel insurance providers offer single trip policies and though they generally offer similar cover features, some will have significant differences and many come with a choice in the level of cover. As with all insurance policies, you should make sure that the policy provides adequate cover for your personal needs. Most single trip policies can be augmented with extras such as dangerous/specialist activity cover, golf cover, excess waivers and extra baggage cover. But most importantly, you should check the cover details to ensure that the policy comers with standard features that provide sufficient cover for things like cancellations, medical expenses and flight delays.
Backpackers insurance
Over 100,000 Britons leave the UK on extended holidays every year. For those travelling from country to country for long periods, buying a suitable backpacker insurance policy is a vital step in preparation for your trip. These policies are available from a number of travel insurance providers and differ significantly in price and level of cover, so check the small print and shop around until you find a policy that you feel offers you all the protection you require. Though the majority of backpackers enjoy problem-free travels, the extended duration of such trips means that risk is increased and the costs incurred for getting into trouble without appropriate insurance are potentially huge.
There are three vital factors to take into account when choosing a backpackers policy: first, make sure you are covered for the duration of your travels - most insurance providers offer backpackers' cover for anything from 1 to 18 months; second, check that the policy covers you for the countries to which you intend to travel; and finally, check that you will be covered for working abroad should you plan to do so.
Winter sports insurance
Skiing and snowboarding trips have become increasingly popular amongst British holidaymakers over the last few years. Since these types of holiday are generally more hazardous than traditional beach holidays, appropriate travel cover is absolutely essential. For more information on winter sports travel insurance please visit our in-depth winter sports insurance guide.
Family travel insurance
Since risk increases with each trip rather than each person it generally works out cheaper to get family travel insurance policies (or, likewise, combined/group policies). Nearly all insurance providers offer cover for families for both single trip and annual multi-trip policies but whom and what they cover can differ significantly.
Some providers have a limit on the number of children that can be included on a policy, whilst a number of others include children at no extra cost, so it is definitely worth shopping around. Check the small print on annual family insurance policies though, as many do not cover policy holders when travelling alone, and others may need notification in such circumstances.
Over 65s travel insurance
Most providers have a maximum age limit for their travel insurance policies, meaning that older travellers are normally exempt from standard packages. Although such age restrictions often change between companies the limit is usually set at 65 years.
Since the increased medical risk of such customers can be offset by other factors (such as the unlikelihood that they will participate in dangerous sports), many providers offer specific policies for over 65s (some have policies for over 55s and other age groups) that provide a more appropriate framework of cover.
In some cases, over 65s travel cover cannot be obtained over the internet; therefore, you may have to contact the company by phone and you may be subjected to a more intrusive line of questioning in order to satisfy the provider's criteria.
Please note: our travel insurance comparison table up-to-date includes information on the maximum age that each provider covers.
Cover for people with pre-existing medical conditions
If you have a have an existing medical condition (including pregnancy) or are diagnosed with one prior to travelling you may not be covered by a standard travel insurance policy. Some insurance providers, however, offer specific, tailored insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions.
As with over 65s travel cover you may not be able to obtain this type of policy online as the provider will require further details on your condition and circumstances. Depending on your condition and whether or not you satisfy the provider's criteria you may have to pay a higher premium, but it is advised that you contact your travel insurance provider about any serious health problems you may have in order to make sure that you are adequately covered by a particular policy. If you do not ensure that you are covered for any existing medical conditions you travel at your own risk.
To compare travel insurance policies from leading UK providers please click here.
Author: KYM Editor
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